Europe’s most liveable city might not be what you think

Monocle has announced their annual ranking of the top 25 most liveable cities in the world, with some really interesting results.  Copenhagen takes the top spot on the list, closely followed by Zürich, Lisbon, Helsinki and Stockholm.  With 3DaysOfDesign in Copenhagen kicking off this week, the news will be welcome to the local design scene and all those visiting! For something new to the line-up, too, Milan has entered the list for the very first time – a surprising fact for many who are familiar with the city from its fleeting fashion and design fairs. But now, an ambitious programme of public infrastructure development ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics has changed it for the better. Why Copenhagen? At a time when many people have been questioning the appeal of city life in a post-pandemic world, Monocle’s survey stands as a reminder of what makes urban living so rewarding in the first place. Compiled by the magazine’s international editors and contributors, the ranking is based on a multitude of factors encompassing objective data such as crime rates, ambulance response times, employment figures, and income inequality, as well as direct-lived experience from Monocle’s global team of correspondents on the ground, and plans for forthcoming infrastructure improvements. No stranger to Monocle’s best city lists, having featured in the top 25 in several of the last 15 years, become a recent fixture of the top 5, and bagged the top spot last year, Copenhagen continues to lead the way in liveability. The Danish capital consistently scores highly across the board, but is never complacent, always looking… Read More